Students studying abroad at the Château de Pourtalès
About Author
Social Media Ambassador, Spring 2023
I attend West Virginia University. I am currently a junior. My major is political science with a minor in philosophy. Sciences Po I have never been to Europe before. I have traveled to areas in the Caribbean before for family vacations. “I have never studied abroad before.”
I chose this program because it fits well with my academic needs and goals at West Virginia University. I am looking forward to the friendship I will and have been making as well as exploring and experiencing new cultures!
I am a huge movie and tv show fan. I love music more than anything. I enjoy watching baseball and fishing during my free time. I also love taking walks and exploring nature. My native language is English and I speak a little Spanish and I’m learning some french as I am here. I hope to gain a lot of international knowledge and cultural experiences.
About Author
Social Media Ambassador, Spring 2023
I am a senior at West Virginia University completing three Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science, Philosophy, and Communication Studies. I am studying abroad this semester at the Ecole de Management.
When I was 10 years old, my family and I travelled to France to visit our relatives. My grandmother was born and raised near Bordeaux! I have not studied abroad before. I chose the ESC Strasbourg Program because it seemed incredibly well-organized and offered unique benefits beyond a typical exchange program. Living in the beautiful Château de Pourtalès with access to a dedicated student team is an incredible benefit that has made the transition so much easier. Additionally, I am very excited about the planned excursions to prestigious institutions, such as the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, NATO Headquarters, and so many more. These are the kinds of opportunities that made the ESC Strasbourg Program stand out to me, and I could not be happier with my choice.
I am most looking forward to seeing as much of the world as possible. Strasbourg is an incredible location for travel throughout Europe because it is so central. Thus, I hope to visit as many different countries and cities as I can throughout the semester! My interests and hobbies include singing, scrapbooking, attending live performances, traveling, going to museums, and reading. I have especially enjoyed watching ballets and operas at the Strasbourg Opera House— I go as often as I can! English is my native language, but I am trying to better my French as well! There is so much I hope to gain from my semester in Strasbourg.
First, I already know that I have made friends that will last a lifetime. We have such a wonderful community here at the Château, and we are only going to keep making more memories together. Second, I expect to grow immensely as a person. I hope to become more understanding, empathetic, resilient, courageous, and organized as I navigate life in Europe. Finally, I predict that my experience abroad will make me more appealing and unique as a young professional on the brink of graduation. The list could go on forever, and I am so excited to see how different I will be in May. I have not written a blog before.
About Author
Social Media Ambassador, Spring 2023
About Author
Blogger, Spring 2023
I am a senior at the University of Florida completing three Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science, Philosophy, and Communication Studies. I am studying abroad for a semester at SciencesPo.
I have traveled quite a bit with my family. We go to Canada every year to visit family and we also go to the Bahamas almost every year. I have traveled to Italy, France, Ireland, Iceland, Costa Rica, and St. Croix before studying abroad. For most of the countries, we went to visit because my mom is a big believer that traveling is the best way to really learn about the world. For Costa Rica, I went on a mission trip and for St. Croix, I went to assist in turtle research with marine biologists which was amazing! I have never studied abroad before so these five months will be filled with new learning curves and adventures. I chose this program because I always knew I wanted to study in France and this program gave me the opportunity to study at one of the best programs for my major and allow me to travel to new countries (plus living in a chateau didn’t sound too bad either).
I am most looking forward to traveling to many other countries and experiencing new cultures with many new friends. I grew up in South Florida so anything with the ocean or water piques my interest. I love surfing and scuba diving or just enjoying time out in the water. I have also played classical piano for 12 years and is still a big passion of mine. Also, within the past two years, I have become very passionate about yoga and will be working towards my teaching certificate this summer! My native language is English but I have been studying French for 9 years and am really working to perfect it. I am expecting to gain some amazing experiences, memories, friends, and life lessons. I am currently a writer for the Global Gator which is the University of Florida’s travel blog and hopefully will be writing for more publications in the future!
About Author
Blogger, Spring 2023
About Author
Fall 2022 Ambassador
Hello! My name is Jaiden and I am from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. I attend Georgia State University as a psychology student with a minor in political science in my Junior year. Here at the University of Strasbourg, I am enrolled in the business school. My favorite thing to do is travel, and with this being my first time in Europe I am very excited to explore France along with other nearby countries. From this study abroad experience, I hope to become a globally competent individual and make a difference in our world.
About Author
Summer 2022 Ambassador
Hi, my name’s Angela! I am a current senior at Georgia College and State University, which is in Milledgeville Georgia in the United States. I am studying English with a minor in rhetoric. I also like to write and do social media as well. In addition, I absolutely love to travel! I have done some travel in the States, mainly along the East Coast, but this is my first time out of the country! And I already can’t wait to see more. Life is too short not to see as much of the world as you can!
About Author
Spring 2021 Ambassador
Lauren is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is studying Journalism and Media Studies back home. She is most interested in the arts, music, and architecture of European culture and am hoping to discover as much as she can while she’s here. She is not fluent in French yet, but knows enough to get around the city!
Her goal is to share the good and the bad about living abroad with you: the culture shocks, language barriers, homesickness, and more. She wants to give you the tools to truly prepare for and understand this experience, and show you how beautiful it can be!
Feel free to contact her through social media! Bienvenue dans ma vie!
About Author
Fall 2022 Ambassador
Hi there! My name is Sandra, and I am a current senior at Georgia State University from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. My major is in Marketing with a minor in International Business. I enjoy getting brunch, playing tennis, and meeting new people on my travel adventures.
I hope to share our experiences as exchange students so that more students can be motivated to study abroad and seek the opportunities out there.
About Author
Summer 2022 Ambassador
Hi, I am Lily Dunlop and I study at Georgia College and State Univerisity as a senior English creative writing major and a rhetoric minor. I am currently studying abroad to finish my Leadership Certificate Program and to gain intercultural experience to further my writing. I have loved Strasbourg so far and I have also traveled to London and Ireland because of this program. During this experience, I have enjoyed writing and creating videos about my experiences on my Youtube channel.
Brandan lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A junior at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, he studies Information Science Technology & Business Administration. Brandan enjoys hiking, cycling, and any kind of adventure. He also spends time working in graphic design and coding websites. Seeking a new challenge Brandan was interested in learning a third language, French. His goal is to become trilingual before graduating spring of 2021. Brandan has a passion for learning languages, new cultures, and about European institutions. He serves as an ambassador in order to share his story and experiences with others.
About Author
Fall 2022 Ambassador
I’m Kyle, a non-traditional (that’s code for old) Senior student at Georgia State University studying Political Science. I love my four dogs, motorcycle rides, comics, and of course, travel. Being a more mature person in a young person’s world is as exhilarating as it is frustrating; and, has led to the most unforgettable experiences of my life.
About Author
Summer 2022 Ambassador
I am a Senior at Georgia College & State University and my major is Environmental Science. Currently, I am studying abroad at the Château as a student in the Intercultural Leadership program.
About Author
Summer 2022 Ambassador
Bonjour à tous!
My name is Aaliyah Walker and I have the opportunity to be a Student Ambassador for the 2022 Summer Intercultural Leadership Program in Strasbourg, France. Can I just say that I am so excited to share my experiences this summer with you all. It’s definitely been a journey since this is my first study abroad trip AND my first time out of the United States 🙂
Check out more pictures of the adventure on my instagram! @aaliyahthealchemist
Sarah Wallace is a native West Virginian, who loves to travel the world and experience exciting new adventures. She is a student at West Virginia University where she is completing Bachelors in International Studies, Political Science, and French, and attends the University of Strasbourg as an exchange student studying Political Science. After graduating, Sarah plans to volunteer in the Peace Corps in the Youth and Development sector, and dreams of one day becoming President of the United States (or the world).
Hello! My name is Ronen Schechter and I am a study abroad student in Strasbourg, France at the University of Strasbourg. Here, I am studying political science, but at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, I study film production with a minor in marketing. I intend to graduate from GSU in the Spring of 2021 with a degree in Film and Media.
Since I’ve been here, many students have asked me why I would want to continue my education studying in a field where I have no particular reason for educating myself. However, every single time that question arises in the conversation, I have an answer ready.
I want to connect with people. And to do so, I need to open my boundaries of comfort and encounter new things. In the case of traveling to Strasbourg, I have (somewhat) made myself accustomed to the French language, the French culture, and the everyday habits of life here.
I have a ways to go.
I am serving as CEPA’s Film Ambassador so I can continue to share stories that interest me. Thanks to CEPA, I will have the privilege to travel to their other study center in Heidelberg, as well as almost any other European city of my choice!
Dajee Lyles is an ESC Heidelberg alumni and senior Business and Spanish major at Mercer University. During her time in Heidelberg, she participated in the Corporate Leadership training and completed the Heidelberg Challenge. She was able to travel to many European cities, meet amazing friends from all over the world, and gain more confidence through her experiences. Dajee is heavily involved in her local community, holding leadership positions with many on-campus organizations and volunteering at various nonprofits and supporting urban development in Macon and Atlanta. After graduation, Dajee plans to return to Europe to continue her studies before taking on law school.
Cameron is a Global Studies major at Georgia State University and a Social Media Ambassador at the European Studies Center Strasbourg. Cameron believes that it is important to have a diverse representation of the people who study abroad and aims to accomplish this as she shares her experience with other students interested in studying abroad. She aspires to work in International Diplomacy and finds it important to understand the world around her through multiple perspectives.
Abby is an alumna of the ESC in Strasbourg. After graduating from Mercer University, she completed her Masters in Security Studies at Georgetown University and currently works as an analyst for the Department of Homeland Security.
Jadon is a junior at Mercer University majoring in international economics. Jadon has long held an affinity for understanding the world around him, both at home and abroad. He is involved with local and campus organizations back home and spent his time at the ESC in Strasbourg growing his intercultural literacy by learning more about French and European culture.
Elizabeth is an ESC Strasbourg alumni and senior Strategic Communications major and Sport Communication minor at West Virginia University. She has a passion for social and digital media. During her time in Strasbourg, she was a Social Media Ambassador. She enjoyed traveling and sharing her experiences with pictures and videos on social.
Elizabeth traveled to 12 countries in four months. Her favorite part about studying abroad was the lifelong friends she made from the program. She encourages students at WVU to study abroad with the CEPA Program.
After graduation, Elizabeth plans to take a trip back to Europe to visit Strasbourg. Then she plans to work in Media Relations and Communications for a Minor or Major League Baseball team.
I’m pretty cool, if you weren’t already aware of that. I’ve been out of the country a few times, traveled all over the USA, and I’m only 22! I can draw, I like to sing when I run, and I have a collection of shot glasses from pretty much any new location I’ve ever been to. I have big dreams of owning my own recycled fabric lingerie company, so be on the lookout for that! Fashion shows and shopping sprees are things I like to partake in when I have downtime (and money). I’m also very into giving back, so I am apart of a great fraternity that goes by the name of APO (Alpha Phi Omega) and we do greta things like donating to dog shelters and helping out at the salvation army. I’m a jack of all trades, if you ask me!
Katie is an undergraduate at the University of Rochester studying economics. She is passionate about applying economics to environmental policy issues, with an interest in doing so at the international level. Outside of the classroom, She is involved in community service and enjoys spending time hiking and painting. Katie is an alumna of the Strasbourg ESC and believes that studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity and everyone should take advantage of that experience!
Rachel is a Strasbourg alumna, dog mom, and bona fide politico. While on study abroad, she wrote for the University of Florida “Global Gators” blog and later served as an On-Campus Ambassador for the CEPA Foundation. She has since completed her Bachelor with a double major in Political Science and Economics at UF and now works in DC as a Staff Assistant in the US House of Representatives.